Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, we have seen several media reports documenting ABA services that were overcharged or
• This bill is sponsored by Paris Hilton's Company 1111 Media and supported by SAGAFRA, the California
• Crystal Strait, representing the Music Artist Coalition and Common Sense Media, in support.
• Natalie Wills, 1111 Media, in support. Thank you. Natalie Wills, 1111 Media, in support. Thank you.
• We've all seen the pictures on our social media feeds or on our TV screens. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony in the House clearly suggested that technology and the use of social media is driving this
• Additionally, people are more likely to post on social media to raise awareness about public meetings
• And an increasing number of Americans receive most of their news from social media.
• Not saying that's a good or a bad media.
• ,</c><01:12:16.480><c> you</c> you know, the the the print media, you you know, the the the print media

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• because in incidences of bullying media because in incidences of bullying went<01:18:17.040><c> down
• They are looking at social media, YouTube, or gaming, even during school time.
• Common Sense Media Research did a great report called Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young
• of the members who responded said that phones are in the category of very disruptive, that social media
• </c><01:30:24.480><c> and</c> the impact of social Med media and the impact of social Med media and personal

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on line 27 is a variation of the social media excise tax that was first heard in the previous session
• </c><00:03:15.720><c> excise</c> a variation of the social media excise a variation of the social media
• This article establishes a social media data collection tax.
• This article establishes a social media data collection tax.
• The social media tax, including SAF.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Crystal Strait with Common Sense Media.
• Good afternoon, Crystal Strait with Common Sense Media.
• Without it, policies risk being driven by speculation and media narratives rather than facts.
• We've seen that in some of the spaces around social media. Where it's like a punishment.
• We've seen that in some of the spaces around social media and AI.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and protect psychotherapy records under confidentiality laws. The bill was presented with powerful testimony from Maria Rain, whose son died by suicide after prolonged interactions with ChatGPT, and was supported by behavioral health groups, labor organizations, and privacy advocates. Tech and medical groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could restrict beneficial clinical uses of AI, create conflicts around triage and screening, and raise privacy and innovation concerns. The committee voted 4-0 to send SB 903 to Appropriations. SB 1119, a companion measure to AB 2023, would create a broader regulatory framework for chatbot interactions with children, including annual risk assessments, crisis-response protocols, parental controls, notice and time-limit requirements, limits on advertising and use of children’s data, public incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. Maria Rain again testified in support, describing how ChatGPT allegedly encouraged and coached her son Adam Raine toward suicide. Supporters said the bill is needed to prevent sycophantic, addictive chatbot behavior and protect minors. Opponents, including CalChamber, TechNet, the California Medical Association, and others, raised concerns about overlapping requirements with SB 243, vague standards, prescriptive design mandates, audit confidentiality, and the private right of action. The committee voted 4-1 to send SB 1119 to Judiciary. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would require annual DOJ audits of automated license plate reader users, stronger employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for ALPR data. Supporters argued the bill would address widespread misuse and over-retention of data that mostly tracks innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, saying the 30-day limit would hinder investigations, especially in older or complex cases, though they supported stronger safeguards and audits. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, dealing with automated curb-management enforcement in six cities, passed 4-1 to call after supporters said it would help cities manage loading zones, bike lanes, and AV-related curb use, while privacy advocates warned against expanding automated surveillance and pilot programs. The committee also approved SB 1101, requiring higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies; it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, was introduced to require advance notice and reporting when AI or other technology displaces workers, with labor support and Chamber opposition; testimony began, but no final action on that bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Crystal Strait with Common Sense Media.
• Good afternoon, Crystal Strait with Common Sense Media.
• Without it, policies risk being driven by speculation and media narratives rather than facts.
• We've seen that in some of the spaces around social media. Where it's like a punishment.
• We've seen that in some of the spaces around social media and AI.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will say, colleagues, I'm not relying on my social media to figure out that this fear is real.
• Here, Where they would put out state-run media.
• You know, the media today, if we look at it, we have a gentleman in the Inland Empire called...
• I think there's a fundamental change happening in the way in which media is being communicated.
• Community is the decentralization of media so that way it is a true and free press.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance recognizing 9/11. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate or temporarily retained. The chamber also took procedural actions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest access and file-item handling, and later taking a roll-call vote to allow a late-filed journal letter request. Among the major Senate bills taken up on third reading, the Assembly approved SB 385 on peace officers’ rights, SB 753 on shopping cart recovery, SB 838 on housing and hotel projects, SB 643 on carbon dioxide removal grants, SB 645 on jury peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 761 on CalFresh access for students, SB 774 on real estate licensing sunsets, SB 400 on renewable energy labor tax incentives, SB 24 on utility spending transparency, SB 37 on attorney advertising ethics, SB 258 on spousal rape involving disabled spouses, SB 364 on outdoor advertising near new freeways, SB 403 removing the sunset from medical aid in dying, SB 770 on HOA barriers to EV charging, and SB 22 on gift certificate cash redemption values. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 403 and SB 770 drew more divided votes, while SB 24 was briefly delayed by a call before passing. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on Assembly bills covering a wide range of topics, including service of process (AB 747), local clean energy planning (AB 39), firearms (AB 1078), workers’ compensation (AB 1336), public health (AB 1487), survivor leave protections (AB 406), solid waste (AB 70), water reporting for data centers (AB 93), Diwali recognition (AB 268), wildfire workforce recovery (AB 338), educational equity (AB 419), civic education (AB 422), office-to-housing conversions (AB 507), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), privacy/browser opt-out rules (AB 566), housing element transparency (AB 610), tenant appliance requirements (AB 628), code enforcement penalties (AB 632), homelessness and LGBTQ-related policy (AB 678), energy (AB 740), DEIA review in state government (AB 766), inmate firefighter wages (AB 247), children’s health (AB 798), real estate (AB 851), COVID-era rehiring protections (AB 858), hazardous materials (AB 961), real property and housing covenants (AB 1050), aging (AB 1069), health care facilities (AB 1172), endangered species protections (AB 1319), CalWORKs modernization (AB 1324), cannabis access for seriously ill patients (AB 1332), foreign labor contractors (AB 1362), and downtown revitalization financing (AB 1445). Several of these passed overwhelmingly, while a few drew notable opposition, including AB 93, AB 403, AB 770, AB 851, AB 1050, and AB 1319. The transcript also included extended debate on SB 34, which was presented as a compromise measure on air pollution and port operations in the San Pedro Bay area. Supporters said it narrowed the scope to protect union jobs while preserving AQMD authority, while opponents and supporters alike noted the underlying distrust between labor and environmental stakeholders. The Assembly passed SB 34, SB 515 on disaggregated demographic data collection, and then began taking up AB 495 on immigration, with the sponsor describing family separation and immigration enforcement trauma before the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this is the social media bill, the um stop the harms of addictive social media bill, to be precise
• Um this is the social media Speaker.
• </c><00:16:46.520><c> Um</c><00:16:46.680><c> this</c> social media bill to be precise.
• Um this social media bill to be precise.
• </c> 15 and under, to have a social media 15 and under, to have a social media account.<00:18:10.800>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . $5 million one time for the Office of Drug Policy to provide a statewide drug awareness media campaign
• Advocacy Centers; and $5 million one time for the Office of Drug Policy for the statewide drug awareness media
• Millennium Fund. ...and $5 million one time for the Office of Drug Policy for the statewide drug awareness media
• appropriated to the Office of Drug Policy for the purpose of conducting a statewide drug awareness media

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee met to consider several budget items and related language. For the Idaho Judicial Branch, the committee approved a motion adding $3.9 million from dedicated funds for court operations, including money for the Senior Magistrate Judge Fund, treatment court and family court services funds, the Substance Abuse Treatment Fund, and the Court Technology Fund. Members noted the court technology funding was being shifted to dedicated funds to replace general fund support, and the motion passed with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a Guardian ad Litem Division budget increase of $165,300 from the general fund, including support for the Second Judicial District CASA program and restoration of part of a prior rescission. Testimony emphasized the role of CASA volunteers and guardian ad litems in child welfare cases. The motion passed despite some dissent, and the committee also adopted related language. For the Millennium Income Fund, the committee approved a motion totaling $9,872,200, including funding for the Kamiah recovery center, the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, youth assessment centers, children’s advocacy centers, a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and an added $30,000 for statewide training and coordination of school resource officers. The added SRO funding drew questions about committee consultation, but the substitute motion passed. The committee also adopted maintenance and new appropriation language for the Millennium Fund items, including reporting and oversight provisions. Finally, the committee approved $486,300 in dedicated funds for the Idaho State Historical Society for archival moving and IT hardware, along with reappropriation language for unspent archive-move funds. It also adopted statewide language making conditions, limitations, and restrictions in appropriation bills binding law. The meeting concluded with notice of the next day’s agenda and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I just feel like it's so much easier to circulate that information via social media or by any other
• believe that the example would be greatly expanded upon if that were the example relative to social media
• I mean, I think there's just a lot more people on social media and on the internet that would have the
• a significant number of people out there who don't rely on online information, whether it's social media

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 2408 would remove a funding cap from Missouri’s Support Services Provider Grant Program for deaf-blind individuals. The sponsor and supporters said the program has grown, more trained SSPs are available, and removing the cap would not automatically increase appropriations but would allow the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to request funding that better matches demand. Testimony in favor came from the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri and consumers/employees of the SSP program, who described the program as essential to independence, employment, medical visits, and community participation. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on HB 2408 concluded. HB 3092 was described by the sponsor as a housekeeping or statutory cleanup bill that removes expired sunsets and obsolete provisions from Missouri law without changing active policy or spending. Members questioned why it was not filed as a revision bill and asked for a line-by-line explanation of the deletions, including some tax credit references. The sponsor said she would provide additional documentation and would change anything found to be problematic. No witnesses testified for or against the bill. HB 2179 would allow charter counties to publish certain public notices either in newspapers or on a Secretary of State website, with supporters arguing that newspaper circulation has declined and that online posting would improve access and reduce costs. Fire service representatives supported the bill, citing problems with bond notices and the need for a central digital location. The Missouri Press Association and newspaper publishers opposed it, saying newspapers still have large readership, already maintain a public-notices website, and that the bill would reduce transparency, create confusion, and duplicate or shift existing work. Members raised concerns about whether notices should be required in both places rather than either/or. The hearing on HB 2179 then concluded, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I just feel like it's so much easier to circulate that information via social media or by any other
• believe that the example would be greatly expanded upon if that were the example relative to social media
• I mean, I think there's just a lot more people on social media and on the internet that would have the
• a significant number of people out there who don't rely on online information, whether it's social media

Committee: House Legislative Review

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recording the board and then going back in editing portions of the responses and posting on social media
• that the attorney firms that I've worked with in the mud world have much heartburn over using. social media
• challenge, is in general, again, the company... that I run, we actually do help facilitate some social media
• Why so many attorney firms try to dissuade their districts from setting up a social media platform. platform

Bills: HB279 , HB310 , HB365 , HB391 , HB420 , HB422 , HB638 , HB279 , HB310

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• bars, clubs, massage businesses, on the streets, and a lot through the internet, including social media
• :58.879><c> social</c> through the internet including social through the internet including social media
• <00:03:59.920><c> online</c> media online media online advertisements<00:04:02.120><c> sometimes</c><

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 128 was heard and then laid over for possible inclusion in the committee omnibus. The bill, authored by Representative Ric, would raise penalties for prostituting a minor so they align with existing criminal sexual conduct penalties: from 20 to 30 years for victims under 14, from 10 to 15 years for ages 14 to 16, and from 5 to 10 years for ages 16 to 18. The author said the bill addresses a statutory mismatch that makes prostitution of a minor carry a lower penalty than some sexual conduct offenses, and noted it was part of a broader, ongoing effort to reform criminal sexual conduct laws. Caroline Palmer of the Minnesota Department of Health provided technical assistance and described the harms of child sexual exploitation, including trafficking, survival sex, coercion, and long-term physical and mental health consequences. She said children are exploited in many settings, including online, and that vulnerability factors such as housing instability, abuse, disability, and lack of support increase risk. She also cited research showing buyers of trafficked minor girls often came from varied backgrounds, and emphasized that victims can face lasting trauma and collateral consequences in education, employment, housing, and the justice system. Members asked about the administration’s position, and Palmer clarified she was there only to provide technical assistance, not to represent a formal endorsement. Representative Mher noted that current law may already allow criminal sexual conduct charges in some cases involving very young victims, suggesting other tools remain available. Representative Pinto said he understood the policy concern but wanted to examine the bill’s structure and penalty levels further. No amendments or votes were taken, and the bill was simply laid over.

Transcript Highlights:

• recommended that we get Constant Contact to send out our emails to employers, lobbyists, and the news media
• lobbyists and our emails to employers lobbyists and the<00:09:37.680><c> news</c><00:09:37.959><c> media
• uh</c><00:09:39.079><c> our</c><00:09:39.240><c> newsletters</c><00:09:39.720><c> and</c> the news media
• uh our newsletters and the news media uh our newsletters and reminder<00:09:40.240><c> emails</c><00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission met on January 14, 2025, with a quorum present in person and by Zoom. The commission swore in new member Representative Jeff Greer, with Judge Willhoit administering the oath. Members then approved the minutes from the November 19, 2024 meeting without changes. Staff reported that the commission remained within budget for the year to date, noting a refund related to an earlier overcharge for record center storage fees. The commission approved the financial report. Emily also introduced new general counsel Steven Pum, who began work on December 16 and is handling financial disclosures and informal staff opinions. Staff gave updates on recent training, including the December 3 new legislator orientation and the January 8 current issues seminar, which featured former U.S. Attorney David Devillers discussing the House Bill 6 scandal. Donita reported on technology and communications improvements, including the new Zoom-capable conference room setup and the Constant Contact email system now being used for newsletters and reminder emails to employers, lobbyists, and the media. She said both systems were working well, and that the office was busy with financial and lobbyist forms. The commission noted that several informal opinions were available in the binder and could be discussed in closed session if needed. The members then voted to enter executive session under KRS 61.810(1)(c) and (k) to discuss confidential complaints and informal opinions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Stay off social media if you're able. Stay off social media if you're able.
• Stop posting on social media something hateful. Post things about love.
• Also, Senator Cutter concerning protections for users of electronic media and a connection therewith
• requiring an operator of a social media platform to ensure the social media platform provides a streamlined
• platform takes an adverse action against a user of the social media platform. >> Representative Story

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• deadline and encourage people to follow us on social media so that you can share those announcements
• We do um have social media legislators.
• We do um have social media that<00:45:28.960><c> we</c><00:45:29.800><c> um</c> that we um that we um
• so that you can share us on social media so that you can share those<00:45:39.360><c> announcements<
• </c><00:46:28.000><c> Senator</c> social media in our circles. Senator social media in our circles.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This outreach strategy includes earned media, paid media, and other dissemination in all 19 Medi-Cal
• with ethnic media.
• , earned media, and linguistically and culturally centered community communication.
• The outreach strategy would use paid media, earned media, and linguistically and culturally centered
• And in California, because we are taking comprehensive steps through the navigators, through the media

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This means that the bill could easily criminalize some sharing of political memes on social media.
• But it was artificially generated media and it included her voice.
• So this is not a problem that is specifically confined to artificially generated media.
• Artificially generated media is a part of it.
• Would you agree that artificial intelligence and AI generated media is evolving rapidly?

Bills: HB304

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: franchise tax credit, food desert, grocery store, healthy corner store, nutrition assistance, economic development, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• outlets that shows us where the incumbent... ...other media outlets that shows us where the incumbent
• It was rolled out on national media, color-coded in red and blue, as if the outcome was already decided
• My opinion has been made on this floor, in the halls of this building, on social media, on television
• Let's get off social media, guys. Body. Let's get off social media, guys.
• Let's not do these things for social media, because he said that smackdown of social media is nonsense

Summary: The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D / House Bill 1D, which would establish Florida’s congressional districts. The sponsor, Sen. Gates, explained that the Governor had transmitted a redistricting plan two days earlier and argued that mid-decade redistricting is legally permissible, citing population growth and the Governor’s view that race-based districting is unconstitutional. Much of the floor time was spent in extended questioning about the process, the lack of public hearings compared with prior redistricting cycles, the use of population estimates from the Census/EDR/ACS, compactness scores, and whether the Governor’s office used partisan data or outside consultants. Gates repeatedly said he was relaying the Governor’s proposal and legal theory rather than offering his own legal opinion, and he said any constitutional challenge would be for the courts. A major portion of the debate focused on the U.S. Supreme Court’s newly issued Calais decision and its implications for the Fair Districts Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Senators questioned whether the decision struck down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, whether it affected Florida’s constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering, and whether the Legislature should postpone action to review the ruling. A motion to temporarily postpone the bill failed by voice vote and then by recorded vote, 12 yeas to 23 nays. Senators also raised concerns that the proposed map cracked minority communities, including Latino and Black populations in Central Florida and Tampa Bay, and that it would produce a heavily Republican-leaning map despite the state’s voter registration mix. After debate on the Senate bill, the chamber substituted the identical House companion bill, read it a third time, and proceeded to final debate. Opponents argued the map was an illegal partisan gerrymander, was based on assumptions rather than verified data, and would likely lead to litigation. Supporters maintained that the Governor had authority to propose a congressional map, that the plan was race-neutral, and that the Legislature could accept, reject, or amend it. The transcript ends during continued debate on House Bill 1D, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• chief executives, when they are auditioning a new public policy, to go to the public or go to the media
• It was rolled out on national media, color-coded in red and blue, as if the outcome was already decided
• My opinion has been made on this floor, in the halls of this building, on social media, on television
• Let's get off social media, guys. Body. Let's get off social media, guys.
• Let's not do these things for social media, because he said that smackdown of social media is nonsense

Keywords: 998, house, all